Foot operated lid opening device

ABSTRACT

A foot operated lid opening device has a frame assembly that fits over a lid of a trash can, recycling or composting bin. A pair of parallel support arms grip the lid using a pair of lid hooks. The foot operated lid opening device is adjustable to fit different size trash containers by using an adjustable crossbar that connects with bolts to crossbars perpendicularly mounted to the support arms. A vinyl coated cable connects to one end of the frame assembly, passes through a hollow foot pedal and then attaches to the other end of the frame assembly. The frame assembly is removably attached to a hinge portion of the trash can with hoop and loop fastener. When a user steps on the foot pedal, the lid is rotated to an open position and returned to the closed position when foot is removed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. No.61/564,938, filed on Nov. 30, 2011, the complete disclosure is herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Disposal of waste has been an issue for people living in a society. Ofcourse in low population settings, people could often just dispose oflitter away from the living area, but as people lived closer togetherand with increased population densities, the disposal of trash is amajor undertaking. All municipalities take steps to organize andregulate waste disposal. Today, most people utilize trash pickupservices either privately run or as part of the services provided by thegovernment. In almost all cases, the user needs to store the trash untilit is picked up, which is often weekly or bi-weekly.

To solve this problem, modern trash practice include storing the wastein receptacles and most of them utilize lids to help control odor andinsect infestation. Although this is good for the user, it also makes itmore difficult to operate since the lid must be lifted in order todeposit trash in it. If the user's hands are full, this is especiallyinconvenient requiring the user to first put the trash down, open thelid and then pick the trash back up. There is a need for a foot operatedlid opening device that is able to fit on existing trash containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A foot operated lid opening device has a frame assembly that fits over alid of a trash can, recycling or composting bin. A pair of parallelsupport arms grip the lid using a pair of lid hooks. The foot operatedlid opening device is adjustable to fit different size trash containersby using an adjustable crossbar that connects with bolts to crossbarsperpendicularly mounted to the support arms. A vinyl coated cableconnects to one end of the frame assembly, passes through a hollow footpedal and then attaches to the other end of the frame assembly. Theframe assembly is removably attached to a hinge portion of the trash canwith hoop and loop fastener. When a user steps on the foot pedal, thelid is rotated to an open position and returned to the closed positionwhen foot is removed.

Other features and advantages of the instant invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the invention which refers tothe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a frame for a foot operated lid opening deviceaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the frame for the foot operated lid openingdevice shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a foot operated lid opening device shown inFIG. 1 installed on a trash container.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the foot operated lid opening device shown inFIG. 3 with the trash can lid opened.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the foot operated lid opening device shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the frame shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the frame shown in FIG. 6 mounted on a trashcontainer lid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference ismade to the drawings in which reference numerals refer to like elements,and which are intended to show by way of illustration specificembodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understoodthat other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes maybe made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Referring to the figures, a foot operated lid opening device 200 isshown having a frame assembly 100 having two lid support arms 105 withcrossbars 115 securely attached perpendicular to lid support arms 105.In the embodiment shown, crossbars 115 are welded to lid support arms105, but they could be attached using bolts, rivets or other connectingmeans as well as being manufactured as an integral unit as long as theyare rigidly attached.

A pair of lid hooks 120 are attached along the inner edge of lid supportarm 105 and fit under a trash can lid 140 to lift it. A cable attachmentplate 125 is attached to the opposite end of lid support arm 105 andprovides a leveraged attachment point for a cable 150 on each side. Anadjustment crossbar 110 is attached to both crossbars 115 using bolts130 which allows a user to attach foot operated lid opening device 200to different size trash containers. Of course other means may be usedsuch as clips, pins or even providing multiple sized non-adjustableunits.

In use, a trash can 135 with trash can lid 140 is fitted with footoperated lid opening device 200 by resting crossbar 115 and adjustablecrossbar 110 on a trash can hinge 145. The width is adjusted byselecting the proper adjustment holes 175 so that lid support arms 105snugly fit against trash can lid 140. To secure crossbar assembly (110and 115) to trash can 135, an attachment strap 165 is used to secure itwhile allowing rotation. Additionally, this allows foot operated lidopening device 200 to be easily removed and reattached as desired. Thisallows the user to remove the unit for trash pickup so that it will notinterfere with normal trash removal services.

In the embodiment shown, two attachment straps 165 are used, but it ispossible to use one or more than two as desired. Attachment straps 165are hook and loop fasteners which allow them to fit around differentsize trash can hinges 145.

A cable 150 has a cable stop 170 and fits within a hole in one of thecable attachment plates 125 and then passes around the front of trashcan 135 and through a foot pedal 155. Foot pedal 155 is hollow andallows cable 150 to pass through it. Cable 150 then passes around theopposite side of trash can and through the hole in the other cableattachment plate 125 and through cable attachment holes 160 in liftsupport arm 105. A cable clamp (not shown) may be used to keep cable 150in place or it may simply be woven through the holes to friction fit.Cable 150 may be cut to remove excess if desired.

The user presses foot pedal 155 down using their foot and this providesthe necessary torque to rotate trash can lid 140 to an open position.When finished, the user removes their foot and trash can lid 140 returnsto the closed position. Additionally, the user may adjust the openposition by changing the length of cable 150. The more distance betweenthe ground and foot pedal 155, the more trash can lid 140 is rotated.The user can adjust how much rotation to impart by changing the lengthof cable 150.

Frame assembly 100 is made of aluminum with crossbars 115 welded to lidsupport arms 105. Other materials may be used, such as but not limitedto steel, plastic, nylon or carbon fiber or other suitable material aslong as it is rigid enough to provide the necessary torque forces neededto rotate trash can lid 140.

Although the instant invention has been described in relation toparticular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modificationsand other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A foot operated lid opening device comprises: aframe assembly; said frame assembly being adapted to fit on a lid of atrash can; a foot pedal; and said foot pedal being connected to saidframe assembly on both sides of said frame assembly wherein when saidfoot pedal is moved downward, a pivoting torque is applied to said frameassembly whereby said lid is rotated into an open position.
 2. The footoperated lid opening device of claim 1 wherein said frame assemblyfurther comprises: a first lid arm support; a first crossbarperpendicularly disposed on a portion of said first lid arm support at apoint less than halfway along said first lid arm support; a second lidarm support; a second crossbar perpendicularly disposed on a portion ofsaid second lid arm support at a point less than halfway along saidsecond lid arm support; and an adjustable crossbar removably attached tosaid first and second crossbar wherein a distance between said first andsecond lid arm supports is adjustable.
 3. The foot operated lid openingdevice of claim 2 wherein said foot pedal is connected to said frameassembly with a cable.
 4. The foot operated lid opening device of claim3 wherein said foot pedal is hollow adapted to fit over said cable. 5.The foot operated lid opening device of claim 1 further comprising aremovable fastener adapted to removably secure said frame assembly to ahinge portion of said trash can.
 6. The foot operated lid opening deviceof claim 5 wherein said removable fastener is a hook and loop fastener.7. The foot operated lid opening device of claim 3 wherein said cableattaches to a cable attachment plate disposed on a distal end portion ofsaid first and second lid support arms.
 8. The foot operated lid openingdevice of claim 7 further comprising a lid hook disposed on a proximalend portion of said first and second lid support arms wherein said lidfits within said lid hook.
 9. The foot operated lid opening device ofclaim 2 where said adjustable crossbar is removably attached to saidfirst and second crossbars using a bolt.
 10. The foot operated lidopening device of claim 3 wherein said cable is vinyl coated.